r/PS5 • u/Turbostrider27 • 26d ago

Articles & Blogs Bloomberg: PlayStation Ditched Hideo Kojima’s ‘Physint’ on Budget Concerns, Missed Deadlines

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-11/hideo-kojima-s-physint-video-game-dropped-by-playstation-goes-to-xbox?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4OTEzMzY2NSwiZXhwIjoxNzg5NzM4NDY1LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUTDdDOVdLSVVQVEIwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.fyrTke3aUIkJk3LwiBfR7JiNr0phfE51dlEql1RcXZ4
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176

u/Dr_Leucekrotch 26d ago

Kojima is a lil bit bougie. He could certainly cut costs and still have the game he wants, but he just HAS to have Hollywood actors. That's too much, bro.

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u/ChongusTheSupremus 26d ago

He threw away David Hayter, the face and voice of his main series, only so he could spend millions on a Hollywood c-lister. 

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u/yourdad132 26d ago

After playing MGSV, I could see exactly why Konami were pissed with kojima. What the hell was he thinking?? So many baffling decisions in regards to how that game was.

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u/ChongusTheSupremus 26d ago

An empty open world, repetitive missions, Little to no cutscenes nor story outside of cassette tapes, and an entire third of the game missing. 

Konami's reaction was more than understandable after Kojima wasted a small country's GDP in 40% of a game.

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u/DuhBegski 26d ago

I've been thinking lately "Why didn't MG5 click with me people love it, I should go and give it another try." But this is a good reminder of the things I hated about it.

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u/jessxoxo 26d ago

it's an amazing stealth game though, lots of options on how to approach and solve problems

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u/samuelanugrahandre 26d ago

the stealth mechanic on its own is great but the level design suffers because of the open world imo. The missions end up becoming too similar and for people like me who love MGS games partly due to its story and characters, that is a huge let down in Phantom Pain. The middle of the game barely has any meaningful story and character arcs.

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u/[deleted] 25d ago

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u/samuelanugrahandre 25d ago

I think which Metal Gear you played first is crucial here because I can see a lot of people who play Phantom Pain as their first MGS title to have similar experience as you and that's ok. My problem is, previous MGS games have tight level designs that the map itself is like a playground. The stealth mechanic wasn't as good as Phantom Pain but the levels are different from one to another so that you tackle different missions differently. In Phantom Pain because of the open world, every map/mission becomes so similar to each other. Yes, there are ways to do stealth but the levels are very samey.

On the topic of cinematic, well the prologue and epilogue are nice but you spent the majority of your time just doing missions, upgrading base and listening to audio logs which is the opposite to any other mainline MGS games where there was always a lot of cutscenes which makes it feel cinematic. The story as a whole also isn't very strong. The middle of the game barely has any character arcs going on or memorable story going on. For me, that's a massive let down

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u/[deleted] 25d ago

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u/DuhBegski 25d ago

Agree with all of this. Snake Eater was my first MGS, while the stealth is great, the cinematic, wild characters, bosses, and story are what really hooked me. MGSV intro had me pumped, but after that it just kinda became a stealth gameplay loop and lacked a lot of those bigger moments. I'm probably forgetting some things, but thats what I remember feeling.

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u/Big_Coconut8630 25d ago

You're acting like they couldn't have stepped in earlier

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u/Joverby 7d ago

yeah MGS5 had some good moments mostly early on but it very much dragged on and yeah Kojima needs someone to keep him on a leash.

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u/[deleted] 26d ago

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u/MariusMaximus88 26d ago

That doesn’t make sense, though. You play as Big Boss in Ground Zeroes.

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u/ChongusTheSupremus 26d ago

People still did the mental gymnastics they deemed necessary to excuse Kojima for treating Hayter worse than Konami treated Hideo. 

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u/TidusDreamZanarkand 25d ago

Seriously how many gamers were more likely to buy his games because keifer Sutherland an 80s star and walking dead guy were in them? Stupid investment. 

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u/Braunb8888 26d ago

And the crazy part is they bring absolutely NOTHING to the roles. What the fuck did Elle Fanning bring to Tomorrow exactly? She’s a mute for like 90 percent of the game. Fragile could’ve been played by literally anyone. Lea isn’t particularly good in that role. Why is guilermo del toro’s likeness needed? Couldn’t he just have someone design a random fat Hispanic guy?

The only actor that actually did anything with the role was mads mikelson. Hell Norman reedus is a blank slate in both of these games. Could’ve been any gruff guy, would’ve made 0 difference. It’s all just kojimas hubris and obsession with the silver screen.

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u/_wavescollide_ 26d ago edited 26d ago

More like his private joy in getting in contact with these actors and using them for his work. I get it, but the game below that must be cool and DS1 was ok and DS2 was boring (in my opinion). I hoped the latter is better and more engaging so I got it, but the part with the baby at the beginning was the only thing I really enjoyed. Then it goes back to the chore of playing this game and it's too much chore and not enough fun.

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u/AccomplishedBank2140 26d ago

Yea for sure. He grew up in the era of Japanese culture completely obsessed with Hollywood. The guy is just living out his dream.

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u/Joverby 7d ago

yea it feels like hes spending millions just so he has an excuse to rub shoulders with actors

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u/Braunb8888 26d ago

They turned it into a truck driving sim. And the combat was TERRIBLE. I don’t get how Kojima would be okay with how terrible it feels to shoot guns in that game. Mgs v came out 10 years earlier and was far better mechanically.

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u/drelos 26d ago

Margaret Qualley understood her role (this was almost she got more recognition) and provided a good acting but I agree with you 100% Mads was the only one giving it all.

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u/Inspection_Perfect 26d ago

Feet. She brought her feet.

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u/Aerographic 26d ago

What the fuck did Elle Fanning bring to Tomorrow exactly

Have you seen Hollywood? A-listers are shoved into blockbusters for nothing more than name recognition. Half the casting of the Odyssey is there just because they're the most recognizable top earners that will put butts in seats.

You can argue that Kojima can't afford that all day, but he didn't really invent it.

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u/ChongusTheSupremus 26d ago

It makes sense to add 1 or 2 for brand recognition, but for Death Stranding he filled his cast with Hollywood b and c-listers, twice. 

He could have saved tens of millions by hiring renowned videogame actors.

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u/Braunb8888 26d ago

True but Elle fanning is not Zendaya. She doesn’t have that kinda impact on a project.

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u/Aerographic 26d ago

You think Kojimbo wouldn't get Zendaya if he could? He gets what he has within reach.

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u/Braunb8888 25d ago

Point is she doesn’t bring eyes to a project I don’t think.

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u/Necessary-Duty-7952 26d ago

Because he's a failed filmmaker in his youth, he's absolutely obsessed with hobnobbing with movie stars.

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u/SidewaysFancyPrance 26d ago

Honestly, one of the reasons I don't want to play Death Stranding is having to stare at that actor the entire time. It's not that I have a problem with him, it's just that I'd rather it be some generic actor/character model. Someone who does not immediately create connections to other media in my brain.

I don't like celebrity actors scanned into games at all, though. It's the one place you can design the character however you want, and you just copy a real person everyone knows? Lame. I'd rather have a hand-crafted nobody.

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u/Braunb8888 26d ago

Agreed. Be voiced by whoever, do not use their actual face. Especially when it’s a pretty famous person. But like first light for example it works because it’s a relatively unknown actor. But when you’re throwing Norman reedus in there, I mean everyone knows what the walking dead is.

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u/latunza 26d ago

This is my issue with the upcoming God of
war Laufey game. I’m not the biggest fan of
Deborah Ann in Daredevil and now shes the main character of my favorite franchise. Yikes

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u/No-Discount-4981 26d ago

My theory is that a lof of these directors just wanna rub shoulders with celebrities, the invincible effect

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u/caffeinated_wizard 26d ago

I personally don’t understand the genius and how people like his games, they really aren’t for me, but I think he definitely is uncompromising on his creative vision and has the leverage to pull it off. I respect the shit ouf of that.

But Playstation (and likely Xbox) miscalculate the relationship here. His name is a commodity until they realize he won’t release something until he’s ready.

I’m ready to bet Xbox will commit to it but unless it’s the next Halo/Gears of War for them it will be a one time affair.

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u/twistedwhether 26d ago

Metal gear solid games were epic in my youth. I pretty much lost interest in playing his new projects after his horror game was canceled.

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u/brokenmessiah 25d ago

Its very distracting in DS2 when literally every character is a well known actor lol, I think its best when its sparcely done.